Erbium oxide as a novel support for palladium nanocatalysts with strong metal–support interactions: remarkable catalytic performance in hydrogenation reactions

Abstract

Because of the active components, ultra small size, and the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) between the metal and the support, noble metal/support nanocatalysts show high catalytic activity in chemical and photochemical reactions. Palladium is one of the most extensively used noble metals due to its outstanding properties. However, the high price and the trend of aggregation are two obvious defects which prevent further application of palladium in large-scale synthesis. Herein, we chose a novel oxide component Er₂O₃ which can effectively reduce the aggregation of palladium nanoparticles as the support. Thus, a series of highly efficient Er₂O₃ nanocatalysts with low palladium loading (ranging from 1.25 wt% to 2.25 wt%) were prepared as highly efficient hydrogenation nanocatalysts. Notably, the 1.75 wt% Pd–Er₂O₃ achieved a remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) value of 9013 h⁻¹ for the hydrogenation of styrene at room temperature and 1 atm H₂. The sample can also catalyze the hydrogenation of a variety of functional nitroarenes with excellent catalytic properties using H₂ as the reductant, which was probably attributed to the synergistic effect of the strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) and strong chemisorption of H₂ on Pd–Er₂O₃. This work could provide a new strategy and inspiration to prepare noble metal particles loaded on oxide supports with remarkable catalytic performance for various chemical transformations.